From Windows 1 to Windows 10: 29 years of Windows evolution

Microsoft Windows has seen nine major versions since its first release in 1985

Over 29 years later, Windows looks very different but somehow familiar with elements that have survived the test of time, increases in computing power and – most recently – a shift from the keyboard and mouse to the touchscreen.

Here’s a brief look at the history of Windows, from its birth at the hands of Bill Gates with Windows 1 to the latest arrival under new Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella.

Versions of Microsoft:MS-DOS (Microsoft disk operating system)1.Windows 12. Windows 23. Windows 34. Windows 3.15. Windows 956. Windows 987. Windows ME8. Windows 20009. Windows XP10. Windows Vista11. Windows 712. Windows 813. Windows 8.114. Windows 10

MS-DOS (Microsoft disk operating system):

Originally developed by Microsoft for IBM, MS-DOS was the standard operating system for IBM-compatible personal computers. The initial versions of DOS were very simple and resembled another operating system called CP/M. Subsequent versions have become increasingly sophisticated as they incorporated features of minicomputer operating systems

Microsoft co-founders Paul Allen (left) and Bill Gates

1.Windows 1:

The first version of Windows

This is where it all started for Windows. The original Windows 1 was released in November 1985 and was Microsoft’s first true attempt at a graphical user interface in 16-bit

Development was spearheaded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and ran on top of MS-DOS, which relied on command-line input

2.Windows 2:Two years after the release of Windows 1, Microsoft’s Windows 2 replaced it in December 1987. The big innovation for Windows 2 was that windows could overlap each other, and it also introduced the ability to minimise or maximise windows instead of “iconising” or “zooming”.

Microsoft Word and Excel also made their first appearances running on Windows 2.

3.Windows 3:

Windows 3.0 got colourful

The first Windows that required a hard drive launched in 1990. Windows 3 was the first version to see more widespread success and be considered a challenger to Apple’s Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga graphical user interfaces, coming pre-installed on computers from PC-compatible manufacturers including Zenith Data Systems

Windows 3 introduced the ability to run MS-DOS programmes in windows, which brought multitasking to legacy programmes, and supported 256 colours bringing a more modern, colourful look to the interface

The Windows 3.0 desktop

More important - at least to the sum total of human time wasted - it introduced the card-moving timesink (and mouse use trainer) Solitaire

4.Windows 3.1:

Windows 3.1 with Minesweeper

Windows 1 and 2 both had point release updates, but Windows 3.1 released in 1992 is notable because it introduced TrueType fonts making Windows a viable publishing platform for the first time.

Minesweeper also made its first appearance. Windows 3.1 required 1MB of RAM to run and allowed supported MS-DOS programs to be controlled with a mouse for the first time. Windows 3.1 was also the first Windows to be distributed on a CD-ROM, although once installed on a hard drive it only took up 10 to 15MB (a CD can typically store up to 700MB).

5.Windows 95:

Windows 95: oh hello Start menu.

As the name implies, Windows 95 arrived in August 1995 and with it brought the first ever Start button and Start menu

It also introduced the concept of “plug and play” – connect a peripheral and the operating system finds the appropriate drivers for it and makes it work. That was the idea; it didn’t always work in practice.

Internet Explorer also made its debut on Windows 95, but was not installed by default requiring the Windows 95 Plus! pack. Later revisions of Windows 95 included IE by default, as Netscape Navigator and NCSA Mosaic were popular at the time

6.Windows 98:

Windows 98, the last great DOS-based Windows

Released in June 1998, Windows 98 built on Windows 95 and brought with it IE 4, Outlook Express, Windows Address Book, Microsoft Chat and NetShow Player, which was replaced by Windows Media Player 6.2 in Windows 98 Second Edition in 1999

USB support was much improved in Windows 98 and led to its widespread adoption, including USB hubs and USB mice

7.Windows ME:

Windows ME was one to skip

Released in September 2000, it was the consumer-aimed operating system twined with Windows 2000 aimed at the enterprise market. It introduced some important concepts to consumers, including more automated system recovery tools.

IE 5.5, Windows Media Player 7 and Windows Movie Maker all made their appearance for the first time

8.Windows 2000:

Windows 2000 was ME’s enterprise twin

The enterprise twin of ME, Windows 2000 was released in February 2000 and was based on Microsoft’s business-orientated system Windows NT and later became the basis for Windows XP.Microsoft’s automatic updating played an important role in Windows 2000 and became the first Windows to support hibernation

9.Windows XP:

Windows XP still survives to this day

Windows XP was released in October 2001 and brought Microsoft’s enterprise line and consumer line of operating systems under one roof.

Windows XP was the longest running Microsoft operating system, seeing three major updates and support up until April 2014 – 13 years from its original release date

Its biggest problem was security: though it had a firewall built in, it was turned off by default

10.Windows Vista:

Windows Vista, arguably worse than Windows ME

Windows XP stayed the course for close to six years before being replaced by Windows Vista in January 2007. Vista updated the look and feel of Windows with more focus on transparent elements, search and security

PC gamers saw a boost from Vista’s inclusion of Microsoft’s DirectX 10 technology

Windows Media Player 11 and IE 7 debuted, along with Windows Defender an anti-spyware programme. Vista also included speech recognition, Windows DVD Maker and Photo Gallery

11.Windows 7:

Windows 7 was everything Windows Vista should have been

Windows 7 was first released in October 2009. It was intended to fix all the problems and criticism faced by Vista

It was faster, more stable and easier to use, becoming the operating system most users and business would upgrade to from Windows XP

12.Windows 8:

Windows 8 focused more on touch than a keyboard and mouse

Released in October 2012, Windows 8 was Microsoft’s most radical overhaul of the Windows interface, ditching the Start button and Start menu in favour of a more touch-friendly Start screen.

The new tiled interface saw programme icons and live tiles, which displayed at-a-glance information normally associated with “widgets”, replace the lists of programmes and icons. A desktop was still included, which resembled Windows 7.

Windows 8 was faster than previous versions of Windows and included support for the new, much faster USB 3.0 devices

13.Windows 8.1:

Windows 8.1 and the great reappearance of the Start button

A free point release to Windows 8 introduced in October 2013, Windows 8.1 marked a shift towards yearly software updates from Microsoft and included the first step in Microsoft’s U-turn around its new visual interface.

Windows 8.1 re-introduced the Start button, which brought up the Start screen from the desktop view of Windows 8.1. Users could also choose to boot directly into the desktop of Windows 8.1

14.Windows 10:

Windows 10 brings back the Start menu

Announced on 30 September 2014, Windows 10 has only been released as a test version for keen users to try. The “technical preview” is very much still a work in progress.

Windows 10 represents another step in Microsoft’s U-turn, bringing back the Start menu and more balance to traditional desktop computer users

Windows 10: Things to know about Microsoft's new OS

Microsoft has pulled a U-turn on its reinvention of the PC, ditching Windows 8 and creating something that blends the old Windows with the new

Windows 10 is the next version of Microsoft’s Windows computer software for tablets, desktops, laptops and smartphones, which brings back the start menu.

1 .Start menu

After complaints from users about its absence, the start menu is back. Clicking the start button brings up a menu, which – although isn’t exactly the same as Windows 7 or those before it – is more familiar than the full-screen tiled interface of Windows 8. This should be much more useful for desktop users, but the tiled interface from Windows 8 is tacked on to the side.

2.Continuum

When connecting or disconnecting a keyboard Windows 10 will switch between a touch-based interface and a mouse and keyboard-focused interface

Windows 10 attempts to blend the best of Windows 7 with Windows 8. One of the smartest things Microsoft has added is Continuum, which detects the state of the computer and presents the right interface depending on whether a keyboard and mouse is being used or the screen is being touched

3.One Windows for all devices

Microsoft is using Windows 10 to attempt to unify its various software platforms across different devices under one Windows brand and softwar

Microsoft has talked a lot about Windows being more than simply desktop computer software. Windows 10 is meant to unify desktop PCs, Windows tablets and Windows Phone smartphones with one interface, one way of operating and one account

4.Universal apps

Microsoft promises that Windows universal apps will run on any Windows product, including smartphones, tablets and desktops

Along with the “one Windows for all devices” idea, Microsoft is pushing what it calls “universal Windows apps”, which is the new name for apps downloaded from the Windows Store. The idea is that one app will be able to run on all Windows platforms, including Windows Phone

5.No more full-screen; universal apps can be windowed

New Windows Store apps, which previously only operated in full-screen mode, can now be used in traditional windows on the desktop

Bringing back the start menu has given the traditional Windows desktop more prominence again. To help merge the Windows 8-style “modern” apps from the Windows Store with the traditional desktop, Windows 10 can now run the newly renamed “universal apps” in windows on the desktop, as though they were any other desktop app

6.Snap assist

The window Snap feature has been enhanced to size windows for better multi-window productivity

The snapping feature, which automatically resizes windows on the desktop to fill part or all of the screen, has been enhanced, allowing tiling of windows, snapping side-by-side and an array of new layouts to including virtual multi-desktop modes to try to help computer and tablet users be more productive with both universal apps and traditional desktop Windows apps

7.What will it run on? Is Windows RT dead?

Is Windows RT dead?

Windows 10 will run on most things that Windows 8 can run on. That includes almost any new PC bought in the last couple of years, but will exclude some older PCs, as Windows 8 requires a 64-bit processor

8.When will it be available, and what will it cost?

Most consumers will buy Windows 10 with a new PC, but for those feeling adventurous and wanting to have a poke around Microsoft’s latest and greatest, the company is allowing users to sign up for early previews of the software still in testing

How much the final retail edition of Windows 10 will cost Microsoft hasn’t said. Windows 8.1 costs £100 from Microsoft, but a Windows 10 introductory discount is likely

9.What’s in a number?

Terry Myerson and Joe Belfiore, Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group unveil Windows 10

Yes, Microsoft did skip from Windows 8 (or 8.1 to be precise) straight to Windows 10.What happened to Windows 9? Perhaps Microsoft has been using base 9, so 9 is 10. Or 10 just sounds better? The Xbox 360 (aka the Xbox 2) and its successor the Xbox One (aka the Xbox 3) are proof that Microsoft is happy to throw out conventional numbering when it feels like it.

With #‎Windows10 and #‎XboxOne, gamers can connect and play across PC and console. See in it action with this exclusive sneak peek of Fable Legends

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